Theatre of Dionysus [Athens]
Dionysustheater
Dionýsovo divadlo
Teatro di Dioniso
Teatro de Dioniso
Theatre building in Athens, Greece
bouwwerk in Athene
Theatre of Dionysus
Theatre of Dionysus (modern Athens, Greece). Cavea width: 82 m, orchestra width: 26.53 m; capacity: 17,000; Orchestra, early 5th cent. BCE, Periclean construction late 5th cent. BCE, Lycurgian construction mid 4th cent. BCE, Neronian renovatons mid 1st cent. CE.
[Theatre of Dionysus/Bacchus] Ancient Greek theatre, built 342-326 BC for archon Lycurgus at the site where various theatre buildings had been erected since the early 6th century BC. 17,000 seats. Alterations in the 3rd and 2nd century BC, and then again ca. 61 AD under Roman emperor Nero (raised stage, stone proskenion, 2nd skene storey). Marble barrier between skene and audience added in the 1st century AD. Honour seats added in Roman times. After the 4th century AD the theatre was not used anymore and fell into decay. 1765 rediscovered. Archaeological examination and restoration in the late 19th century under Wilhelm Dörpfeld. All extant classical Greek dramas were first presented in the theatres on this site.
5th century BC
The Dionysus Theatre in Athens was the most important theatre in ancient Greece and is also considered the first theatre in the world. It was named after Dionysus, the god of wine, ecstasy and madness.